COACH: “…will certainly be tested.."

September 15, 2026

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal met with the press on Monday. He shared his thoughts on the upcoming game against Wake Forest, the potential impact of injuries to the Canes’ secondary, the progress of Miami’s offensive line, on Wake’s defensive front seven and more.

On his first impressions of Wake Forest…

“…obviously, a great team, great players, great coaches playing at a really high level and have been since last season. A very mature team, older team, experienced team. 17 of 22 starters are upperclassmen. The best way to describe them is that they're fast, they're physical, play with a high motor, and they play with an edge.”

On Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez…

“Gio Lopez, 220 pounder that can make every throw, can do it in the pocket, can do it on the run. Great pocket presence, can hurt you with his feet. Designed quarterback runs, or could just take off and improvise off script plays. Super accurate, and you saw him last week in double overtime, take over the game. Explosive targets.”

“…he's playing at a really high level. People who are saying he was banged up, he's not. I mean, that guy just-he took over the game, very physical. I don't think, besides the off-script plays where he takes off with the ball, the design quarterback runs are really physical runs. He's running quarterback counters, running quarterback lead stretch. He's doing a lot of things that are physically demanding, and there's no hesitation, no flinching in him. The guy's an excellent football player and a difference maker for them.”

On Wake Forest’s defense...

"Defensively, they are disruptive. They're in the backfield. They knock you back. They're knock back tacklers. They are top 10 and top 20 nationally in just about every category. I won't get into that unless you ask questions.”

“But you know, looking at them, familiar face in No. 5. Their boundary safety Devon Patterson, who actually forced a fumble two years ago against us here at Hard Rock. But 28 career starts and the captain very physical, downhill can cover, can come on pressures in the backfield, forces all kinds of issues, turnovers, tackles for losses. Impressive player.”

"Their defensive ends long, explosive, strong, disruptive. Great pass rushers. They shorten the edges. They splatter blocks both on split zone and on counter. Their boundary defensive end, Langston Hardy. You've seen him all over the place. Seven sacks last year. Two TFLs last week. 256 pounds does it all, as does their defensive end to the field. Gabe Kirschke at 285 pounds, very different type of field end than what we've seen so far. Five sacks last year, a sack last week, and a tackle for loss. Disruptive, strong.”

"Linebacker is different. You know the their leading tackler right now, No. 23, a very different body type, 6-4, 230 pounds, rangy, can cover, can get downhill. Knock back tackler could take on big offensive lineman Shetam, great at block destruction. Their defensive tackle, No. 52, another one that you always see in the backfield. Great speed of power rush, great rip move, but really good at the point of attack, splitting double teams, and creating all kinds of issues. And their special teams. I mean, I'm sure you guys have seen last year fourth in the country in kickoff returns, and housed a punt return as well. So hopefully that answers a couple of things that you might have had for me.”

On Wake Forest’s passing attack against a banged up Miami secondary…

"Yeah, tremendous opportunity. Obviously, we worked different combinations from the springtime throughout the summer and in fall camp, and feel good on the pieces that we've settled on to start the game, and how we move them around as the game goes on in our different packages. So they will certainly be tested. These guys have an excellent group of not only skill guys, but just their entire offense, their entire operation. They'll challenge you and they're in sync. They're on the same pace. They have different tempos, so looking forward to a great opportunity.”

On Darian Mensah’s efficiency…

"I would say the mother of all learning--the repetition. The repetitions have really taken its course, where guys have really built a lot of confidence in each other. The relationships off the field have carried on onto the field, and therefore more time is being invested around each other, with each other, and that in turn turns into more of the extra work, and all that stuff adds up. And as more and more confidence is built, I think the appetite grows to be better.”

On Bryce Fitzgerald’s traits at cornerback…

"I think he always had those traits. He was always a safety that had the skill set of an elite corner because he's a big guy. He's 190, 195 pounds. he's rangy. His hips, there's no limitations. I mean, he could get in and out of stuff in a hurry. His stop-and-go is off the charts. Getting in and out of breaks. I mean, you should see him at wide receiver. I mean, he's one of those guys that can flat out fit at any position because he doesn't have any limitations. And then we all know how instinctive he is. Those instincts in his first shot out there at corner, they he seemed very natural and he's had a really good couple days of practice. So we're looking forward to watching him continue to improve.”

On the offensive line's progress…

"Well, they're in sync, and I think it all starts with the command of the offense, with the quarterback in the center. When those guys are on the same page, everyone else is. And again, the level of communication and the time invested in their extra meetings, or protection meetings, or run game meetings, or plus one adjustments, or pressure adjustments has really paid off. And what you see is a bunch of guys that realize that we can get a heck of a lot better, and that they're invested in doing so.”

On playing ninety-one players against Florida A&M…

"Well, I'd say we're really intentional about playing anyone anywhere that shows that they can be trusted. Because the one thing that we like to stay away from is just playing a guy because we built up a lead. Because I think that leads to a lot of bad habits. Guys assume, 'Hey, if we get up, I want to get in and play.' And the guys that played in some way, shape, or form, they earned that time, and over the course of four years, we played a lot of freshmen. We've had a lot of success with freshman All-Americans and guys that have gone out and played at a high level here and then in the NFL. So, hopefully, it speaks loudly to our recruiting grounds, and I know it was a very important aspect to be addressed when we arrived here back in 22. So, hopefully, that action is speaking loudly enough, or we don't have to speak it.”

On having Saturday’s off so far…

"Well, we've been working. You get to watch bits and pieces. We get those games cut up and summarized for us, so you could just zip through them. The [graduate assistants] and the analysts obviously watch all the TV copies. Anything you could pick up off those TV copies certainly helps out. But when you have an extra day, you know, luckily we had over 30 plays with the ones before we pulled them at halftime. You wish we had a few more because you don't like to have any off days if you don't get enough of a play count this early in the season, but we got enough where we used it in a manner where we still had practice and meetings and walkthroughs and whatnot, and got ourselves in a position where we can push ourselves again this week and get on a regular schedule.”

Miami travels to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to take on Wake Forest this Friday night, Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage on ESPN and 560-AM WQAM.

GO Canes!